Headphone Amplifier with Balanced Input/Output--Recommendations?

[HalfEars]

I've searched the forum and don't find any recent threads for this subject...

Recently I purchased a FiiO M11 for me--I got my wife one last July for her birthday and finally broke down and got one for me. I'm looking for a good headphone amplifier to chain to the FiiO M11. I've got two sets of headphones with balanced cables: Sennheiser HD650 and Sony MDR-Z7M2. I've also got a set of 64 Audio A10 CIEMs with a balanced cable.

I've lost a lot of my high tone and the upper-half of my midtones over the years and envision chaining the M11 to an equalizer which then feeds the headphone amp from where I'll pull a balanced signal to my cans or IEMs.

Any recommendations on amplifier, equalizer, and appropriate interconnect cables is appreciated. I'd like to keep the total package at or below $1,000.

 

[Ross6860]

Check out the reviews on YouTube, etc. No affiliation.

https://drop.com/buy/drop-thx-aaa-789-linear-amplifier

Balanced in and outs. Plenty of power. Three gain settings, so good for IEMs in addition to headphones.

I've only had mine a couple of days. Upgraded from a Schiit Magni. It appears very well built and comes with a decent power supply.

Heck of a deal for $300 IMHO

 

[rmsanger]

The topping A90 looks great as does the SMSL SP200. I'd also suggest looking into the Liquid Platinum By Alex Cavalli. Does your $1k budget need to include a DAC? If not Violectric V280 was just reduced to $1100 on drop and it's an end game SS amp for many people (german engineered/produced).

This combo represents a great value for $ to performance and being fully balanced is you need amp + dac.

https://www.audiosciencereview.com/...topping-a90-headphone-amplifier-review.13592/
https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/soncoz-la-qxd1-balanced-dac-review.13459/

V280 - https://drop.com/buy/violectric-v280-headphone-amp
Liquid Platinum - https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=33305

 

[WobblySam]

Do take a look at the Schiit Mjolnir amp. I've had the original for a few years. The current model is the Mjolnir 3 - quite a number of changes. It now has tubes (it was all solid state) and the headphone outputs have changed. It now has a single 4 pin XLR combo balanced output. Mine has that and a pair of standard 3 pin XLRs - so it may not be appropriate for your balanced cables. Some are combo 4 pin and some are two L/R 3 pin XLRs. Some reviews call it "sterile" - I call it uncolored with a flat frequency response, even with lower Z phones.

I also have the Violectric V280 mentioned above and at $1100, it's a steal. That is my "summit" solid state amp. It will be a joy with the Hi-Z 650's.

Good luck with your search.